Improved washing-powdek



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HENRY BENTER, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

Letters Patent No. 65,049, dated .May 28, 1867.

IMPROVED WASHING-POWDER.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, HENRY RENTER, of Pittsburg, in the county ofAllegheny, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Washing-Powder; and I do hereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My washing-powder is designed to facilitate the process and lessen thelabor of washing and cleansing textile fabrics of every kind,particularly when made up into articles of clothing, or otherwise usedfor purposes of personal comfort, and also to lessen the expense of suchprocess.

It consists of a mixture or compound of carbonate of soda, ultramarine,or their equivalents, and cuttle-fish bone. The ingredient first named Iuse commonly in the purest state in which it can be obtained; and,practically, I find the English or best American sal-soda to bepreferable to the other carbonates for the purposes designed.The-proportions in which I mix the articles named are substantially asfollows: for eighteen pounds of sal-soda, or for such quality of a lesspure carbonate of soda as will give an equivalent of strength, one andone-half ounce of'cuttle-fish bone, and one-half ounce of ultra-marine,more or less, varying the proportions somewhat at pleasure, according tothe strength of the ingredients, or the character of the articles to becleansed. For the ultramarine, indigo or other vegetable blue maysometimes be substituted, though with less satisfactory results. I alsosometimes substitute for the ultramarine a residual product thereof,sometimes known as ultramarine suds, which consists of its less solubleingredients, and is a resultant in certain processes of coloring inwhich ultramarine is used. Any mode of compounding by which a goodmechanical mixture of these ingredients is secured may be adopted; but Ihave found it best, after thoroughly pulverizing the ultramarine andfish bone, to mix them well together, then let this compound lie for oneor two hours, whereby a more intimate union is effected, and afterwardsmix it well with the Sal-soda, which is also in a pulverized state. Thepowder is then ready for use.

In using it, in every ten gallons of water, usually boiling, I dissolveabout two ounces of the powder along with about four ounces of commonhard soap, usually sliced. The liquid being kept at a boiling heat for ashort time, I put in the garments or other articles to be cleansed,-andboil briskly for fifteen or twenty minutes, more or less, moving themabout occasionally, whereby most if not all the dirt is removed. If anyremains, a little rubbing and rinsing eflectually complete the cleansingprocess, after which the garments may be wrung out of water slightlyblued, if found necessary. Flannels, however, and delicately coloredsilks or other articles, should not be'boiled, but may be readilycleaned, as above described, without boiling.

The chemical action of caustic alkalies in washing and cleansingprocesses is too well known to require a lengthy description. The unionof the sal-soda and fish bone produces an alkali which saponifies anyoil}; matter which may exist in the fabrics-to be cleansed, loosens thedirt contained therein, and absorbs all soluble impurities. But itsaction is less severe than that of the caustic alkalies generallyemployed for such purposes, so that little or no injury is caused to thefabrics. I prefer thc'ultramarine to indigo or other vegetable blue,both on account of the'great superiority of its color, and also onaccount of its obdurate character, whereby it resists the action of theacids and alkalies which exist to a greater or less degree in the otheringredients named. Fabrics treated by the process described are, Iclaim, more thoroughly cleansed, and with less injury, and are left witha clearer, whiter color than by the processes now generally in use, andalso at a less expense.

In addition to the purposes above stated,-I apply my invention tocleansing purposes generally, house cleaning, shampooing, bathing, 850.For such uses I dissolve a tea-spoonful or less of the powder in awashbowl of warm water, with a little soap, and apply it in the usualmanner.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A washing powder or compound, composed of sal-soda, or its chemicalequivalent, cuttle-fish bone, and ultramarine, or other equivalentcoloring matter, mixed in about the proportions above stated, andsubstantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

In testimony whereof I, the said HENRY BENTER, have hereunto set my handin presence of-- HENRY RENTER.

Witnesses:

A. S. NICHOLSON, E. Wonnnnmcn.

